Derby Party ... I have always hated the writing of Hunter Thompson. Even as a teen I was mystified why people raved about his whacked out of his head typing. I recently watched an ESPN quick doc on his original story in reporting on the Kentucky Derby. It was, unfortunately, the beginning of what came [...]
Love A Good Beer?? To Santa Rosa we go where Aleworks on Third St. knocks my socks off with some excellent brewed on premises craft beers along with some very good pub grub. The Insider sat down with Michaela Hinkson who has been with Aleworks for 21 years, 15 years as GM… I guess you [...]
Love A Great Steak…. To Cole’s Chop House we go… a Napa institution if there ever was one. .. A top notch steak house with excellent wines and service. Co-owner Eric Keffer, who had 12 years at Cole’s before taking over, showed me around the upper lounge with original stone walls and high ceilings, “Heather [...]
Notes from the 10th Pebble Beach Food and Wine Fest... Thurs night was a total blast with great food snacks and awesome after party where the booze was flowing like water... Friday afternoon, a return to The Inn at Spanish Bay, where gorgeous fairways and greens line right up with the Pacific Ocean… so gorgeous, [...]
History of Napa in 8 Glasses .... To the CIA’s Copia Lecture hall where one of their beverage instructors, Traci Dutton, leads a lecture on the history of Napa in eight glasses. In her opening remarks Dutton said that half of the world’s soils are present in the Napa/Sonoma valleys, which is why there is [...]
Extravaganza's Engaging Co-founder.... It was a kick to converse with David Bernahl, Monterey’s Restaurant 1833 owner and co-founder of the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival which is coming up on its 10th anniversary next week. David was bubbling over with the enthusiasm about food and wine that I try to bring to the Insider. [...]
Menu Changes Nightly… To ad hoc in Yountville we go where we sit down with Chef de Cuisine, Matt Alba, over a plate of their well-known, excellent fried chicken. Last night’s dinner? Spaghetti. ad hoc is unique in that we change the menu every night and that was our comfort food pick last night. Favorite [...]
A Fine Wine Lounge .... With the 10th anniversary of the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival coming up next week, the Insider thought it’d be cool to check in with sommelier Jeffrey Birkemeier of the Stave Wine Lounge at the Inn of Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach. Last night’s dinner? Nice rack of lamb [...]
A Club With A Twist... To the Kitchen Collective Urban Cooking Club where we sit down in the Club’s stylish meeting room and chat with Adam Hart who is the Club’s member liaison. Last night’s dinner? Chile verde tacos and Korean short ribs. We got two full time chefs on staff and boy, do we [...]
A Concierge Who Knows .... To Santa Rosa’s Hyatt we go where Ryan Alton has been the concierge for the last five years. And he says with much amusement in his voice when asked, “He sends people to Napa and Sonoma equally.” Last night’s dinner? Our staff meal. Real comfort food. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and [...]
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